Sarfaraz Khan’s blitzkrieg against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Tuesday night showed the world that Indian cricket’s future is in safe hands. Khan, who has represented India in two editions of the under-19 cricket World Cup blasted his way to a 10-ball 35 while batting for Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Such innings from a under-19 player isn’t something new. Last year, Delhi Daredevils’ Shreyas Iyer displayed his talent with pomp, smashing bowlers all around the park with a kind of authority and audacity that is rare to find in a youngster still finding his feet at the highest level.
In the recently concluded under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh, India finished as Runners-up, losing the final to West Indies. Alongwith Sarfaraz Khan, a few members of that silver medal winning team have become talking points in the Indian cricketing fraternity and are definitely worth keeping an eye on:
MAHIPAL LOMROR
Lomror in action during the U19 World Cup
An admirer of Adam Gilchrist and Ravindra Jadeja, Lomror has been described as “India’s young Chris Gayle” by many, such is his talent with the bat.
The 16-year old Rajasthan born cricketer, is the youngest to be representing any franchise in IPL 2016. Playing for India U19s under the guidance of coach Rahul Dravid brought the best in him as he finished the tournament as one of the top utility players – putting in match winning performances against Namibia and New Zealand (in a crunch knock-out game).
Lomror was picked up by the Delhi Daredevils in the 2016 auction for his base price. But one can surely expect him to punch way above his weight.
RISHABH PANT
Rishabh Pant smashes it
Another one of the promising lot, Rishabh Pant broke into the India U19 team with some eye catching performances at the age-group level.
Mentored by one of India’s best domestic coaches, Tarak Sinha, Pant learnt to ply his trade in Delhi and made his first-class debut against Bengal in October 2015.
A wicket-keeper batsman, Pant idolizes Adam Gilchrist and MS Dhoni and also models his play on the lines of their aggressive styles. The left-hander in fact walked his talk when he hit a 24-ball 78 laced with nine fours and five sixes against Nepal in one of the U-19 World Cup games.
While his work behind the stumps still needs some fine tuning, if he continues to bat the way he has been batting lately, he is sure to leapfrog a bunch of wicket-keepers in the country and be at the top of the queue when MS Dhoni retires from limited overs cricket.
AVESH KHAN
Avesh Khan: burning bright
With 12 wickets in the U19 World Cup, Avesh Khan was India’s biggest success story coming out of the tournament.
The 19-year old’s ability to swing the ball, and keep a check on the scoring of batsmen made sure that other bowlers in the side didn’t have to worry a great deal. With Khaleel Ahmed, he formed a formidable new ball pair that ensured India’s unbeaten run right till the finals.
It was against Ireland U19s that Khan displayed what he is capable of when he stifled the batsman with an opening spell of 5-1-15-0 and eventually led them to running themselves out.
Khan has played five first-class matches for Madhya Pradesh and has 15 wickets to his name at an average of a shade above thirty.